Carberry: "Lord's still the showpiece"
Published: 10 September 2012

Hampshire's England prospect Michael Carberry believes the CB40 Final at Lord's against Warwickshire will be the showpiece event of the county summer.

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The county final at the Home of Cricket is the showpiece

Hampshire won their second Friends Life T20 trophy in three years on finals day in Cardiff earlier this summer, and sealed their place in a second domestic one-day final of the summer by beating local rivals Sussex.

And despite their success in the shortest format, Carberry - who has played in two Lord's finals - described the experience at the Home of Cricket as the event players most look forward to.

"The county final at the Home of Cricket is the showpiece," said the 31-year-old.

"It's very special for any cricketer. It doesn't get better than playing at Lord's - it's where every cricketer aspires to play and show off their skills, it's a fantastic experience."

Carberry has felt contrasting emotions on Lord's final days, finishing on the losing side in his first final against Durham in 2007, before avenging that defeat two years later against Sussex.

The left-hander is desperate to add a second win to his CV but believes his performance on Saturday 15 September is unlikely to influence his bid to replace Andrew Strauss at the top of the England order when they tour India this winter.

"I’m not really thinking about it at all," added Carberry, who played one Test in Chittagong in 2010 before a blood clot on his lung briefly threatened his cricketing career.

"I'm not waiting by the phone. We've got some massive games to play with Hampshire that’s my main focus at the moment."

Indeed, Carberry was of the opinion that the selectors had already made their decision as to Strauss' replacement.

He said: "I think the England selectors have made their mind up ahead of this regardless, so I don’t think they’re going to change that based upon my performance at Lord's.

"I haven’t heard anything about the England place so I’m not really thinking about it at all - though of course I'd love to get the nod."